Aizen vs. Liu Hao (1)

Sensing the terrifying Reiatsu emanating from Liu Hao, which surged like a tidal wave yet vanished in an instant, Aizen's purple eyes flickered with a complex and unfathomable light.

He hovered in mid-air, three pairs of butterfly-like purple wings fluttering gently behind him, scattering countless tiny Reishi particles of light. It was breathtakingly beautiful, yet also suffocatingly dangerous.

He spoke, his voice still calm and composed, yet carrying an undisguised hint of surprise and delight. "At first, I thought only that human brat... that boy named Ichigo Kurosaki... had the potential to transcend the realms of Soul Reaper and Hollows, to stand shoulder to shoulder with me, and ultimately be slain by me."

He paused, his smile widening, "I never imagined there would be another one like you."

He tilted his head slightly, his purple eyes, like two deep gems, gleaming with a probing light. "You truly surprise and delight me... Liu Hao."

Liu Hao stood silently atop the ruins, a faint, almost imperceptible Reiatsu swirling around him. This Reiatsu seemed ethereal, as if it might dissipate at any moment, yet it contained a terrifying power capable of destroying the world. He raised his head, meeting Aizen's gaze, a faint, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips, "Surprised?"

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "As long as you don't feel frightened."

Upon hearing this, Aizen was taken aback for a moment, then threw his head back and burst into laughter. The laughter echoed in the silent night sky, carrying an indescribable, exhilarating joy, as if he had heard the funniest joke, "Haha--!"

He laughed heartily, so heartily that it sent a chill down one's spine. "Shock?!"

His smile faded, he lowered his head, and his purple eyes looked down at Liu Hao with a hint of disdain, as if asking, "What makes you think you can do this?": "Just because you?!"

He gently shook his head, the movement elegant and composed. "If you had revealed this level of strength before... before you exhausted a large amount of Reiatsu, before your Zanpakuto was sealed by Griffith, before you were injured... it would indeed have been possible for you to defeat me."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "But isn't it a bit too late to reveal it now?"

Liu Hao listened quietly, his smile remaining unchanged.

But deep within those eyes, something was quietly changing.

It was an emotion that had been suppressed and accumulated for too long, finally about to erupt...

His expression suddenly turned serious. It wasn't the focus he had during battle, but rather a kind of candor, as if he were about to dissect his own heart and reveal his deepest secrets to the world.

He spoke, his voice low and calm, yet carrying an indescribable weight, as if from the depths of his soul. "Aizen... I've known of your existence since the moment I came into this world."

Aizen's brow twitched slightly.

Liu Hao continued, his voice growing lower yet clearer. "No, to be precise, I know your purpose."

He paused, his gaze becoming somewhat distant, as if recalling a distant, newly arrived version of himself. "From that time on, I was afraid. Afraid of becoming cannon fodder, needlessly dragged into this mess you created."

His voice carried a faint, almost self-deprecating tone. "Especially after I met Rukia and Renji, I knew... I couldn't avoid coming into your sight. At that time, I wanted to escape for my life, to separate from Rukia and Renji, to find a deserted place to hide."

Aizen listened quietly, his smile fading slightly.

Liu Hao's voice grew even deeper. "Later, through my time with Rukia and Renji, my heart... changed."

He raised his head, a complex light flickering in his eyes. "I wanted to protect them. To avoid changing everything I knew, I consciously avoided you. Until..."

A chilling killing intent flashed in his eyes. "A year ago, Renji's Hollowfication made me change my mind."

He took a deep breath, his killing intent intensifying. "In the future, there may be things that require your presence. But..."

At this point, Liu Hao's expression suddenly turned sinister! His previously calm face was now burning with an unprecedented rage, as if he had been suppressing it for too long!

He gritted his teeth and spoke slowly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "But... I... still... can't... help it..."

His voice grew louder and more ferocious. "I want to... kill... you!!"

Those last three words exploded in the night sky like a thunderclap!

At the same time, the previously faint Reiatsu emanating from Liu Hao suddenly became sharp! That sharpness was like a drawn sword, its edge fully revealed, pointing directly at Aizen!

Aizen looked at his increasingly fierce appearance and felt the sharpening Reiatsu emanating from him. His smile only deepened. In that smile, there was no fear, no apprehension, only a faint, amused look, as if he were observing an amusing child.

He chuckled softly, "Really?"

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "So... do you think... you can do it?"

He leaned forward slightly, his purple eyes meeting Liu Hao's. "Before I evolved, you said you couldn't kill me. Now, you're making threats again..."

He shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm, as if saying, "You're too naive": "Isn't it too late?"

Liu Hao took a deep breath.

That breath was long, very long, as if it were trying to suppress all the anger, all the murderous intent, and all the resentment in his chest.

Then, he raised his head, his expression returning to calm. But that calm was no longer the composure of before; rather, it was a kind of resolute determination, as if he had already made some kind of decision.

He spoke, his voice calm yet firm. "I may indeed be unable to kill you."

He paused, his gaze growing even more profound. "But... your goal... will definitely not be achieved."

Aizen looked at him, a complex light flashing in his purple eyes. That light contained inquiry, curiosity, and a hint of something indescribable... wariness.

He simply uttered two words: "Is that so?"

Liu Hao didn't say anything more. He simply nodded slightly and uttered the same two words: "Yes."

The moment the words fell--

They moved at the same time!

Their speed was unbelievable, exceeding the limits of vision! As if in the blink of an eye, the two figures collided violently in mid-air!

Clang--!

A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the night sky!

Swords clashed, sparks flying! The sparks scattered like a meteor shower, illuminating the faces of the two men so close together!

A fierce fighting spirit burned in Liu Hao's eyes!

A chilling killing intent flashed in Aizen's eyes!

They exerted force simultaneously and suddenly separated!

Then, he charged at the other side again!

Ding ding--!

The clash of swords was endless! Each collision unleashed a terrifying shockwave powerful enough to tear space apart! Each exchange caused the ruins beneath their feet to crumble once more!

This fake Karakura Town, created by Kisuke Urahara, began to tremble violently during their battle!

The already dilapidated buildings collapsed like paper in the shockwave from their collision! The huge stones were blown away by the aftershocks of the Reiatsu, tumbling, colliding, and shattering in the air, turning into countless tiny dust particles!

The earth trembled, the sky wailed, and space itself seemed to twist and tear apart during their battle!

This is a real, earth-shattering battle!

On the edge of the battlefield, in that relatively safe area—

Retsu Unohana finally finished treating Hiyori Sarugaki. She gently put down the healing Kidō she was holding, stood up, and walked to Ichigo Kurosaki's side.

Her face still wore that gentle smile, but a complex light flickered deep within her eyes. She looked at Ichigo Kurosaki, her voice soft and gentle. "Ichigo- kun, hand your father over to me."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the other two lying on the ground not far away. "By the way, bring Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin over too. I'll give them some basic treatment first."

Upon hearing this, Ichigo Kurosaki nodded quickly. He carefully helped his father, Isshin Kurosaki, up and gently placed him in the spot designated by Retsu Unohana. Then, he quickly turned around and, with the help of Gin Ichimaru, moved the heavily injured and unconscious Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara over as well.

Although Gin Ichimaru was also injured, and the piece of flesh torn from his arm by Aizen was still throbbing, he didn't say a word. He simply worked silently with Ichigo Kurosaki to carry the two of them to Retsu Unohana and lay them side by side next to Isshin Kurosaki.

Retsu Unohana crouched down, covering her hands with a soft, pale golden healing Kidō light, and began to heal the three. Her movements were gentle yet precise, and each input of Reiatsu was just right.

During a break in her treatment, she looked up at the two figures locked in a fierce battle in the air. In her gentle eyes flickered an indescribable mix of worry and anticipation.

After receiving emergency treatment from Retsu Unohana, Kisuke Urahara was the first to wake up.

His eyelids trembled slightly, then slowly opened. His eyes, hidden in the shadow of his hat brim, were initially somewhat unfocused, but quickly regained their focus.

He turned his head slightly, looking at the two figures locked in a fierce battle in the air, feeling the terrifying Reiatsu colliding with them, enough to change the very fabric of the world. His voice was hoarse and weak. "Captain Unohana... can Liu Hao win?"

Retsu Unohana didn't stop the treatment. Her voice remained gentle and calm, yet carried an indescribable certainty, as if stating a fact. "It's possible."

She paused, a faint glint in her gentle eyes. "Since Liu Hao learned Bankai, the only people in Soul Society who can rival him are probably those guys above."

Kisuke Urahara's brow twitched slightly. He turned his head with difficulty to look at Retsu Unohana, his voice tinged with barely concealed surprise. "The guy up there? Zero Division?"

Isshin Kurosaki, lying beside him, also heard those words. Although he was so weak that he could barely move, he still managed to keep his eyes open and look at Retsu Unohana, waiting for her answer.

Retsu Unohana nodded slightly, her gesture carrying a faint hint of "yes": "Yes."

She paused, her gaze returning to the proud figure standing in the air, her tone becoming even more meaningful. "After learning Bankai, Liu Hao began to seal his power."

She paused, a hint of reminiscence creeping into her gentle smile, "At first, I didn't understand why he would do that. Why seal away such immense power? Why hide his strength?"

Her gaze deepened. "However, regardless of whether it was sealed or not, his power continued to grow. That growth wasn't deliberate cultivation, nor was it a frantic pursuit; rather, it was as natural as breathing, as ceaseless as a stream. It was there, silently and steadfastly, growing stronger little by little."

She narrowed her eyes slightly, as if sensing something. "Occasionally, his seal will show some tiny cracks, and some power will leak out. As someone who has been by his side for a long time, I can feel the power he occasionally leaks out... how terrifying it is."

Her voice grew deeper. "Only then did I understand why he chose to seal himself away after Bankai."

She raised her head, her gentle eyes gleaming with an all-knowing light. "Only in that way will he not inspire fear."

Ichigo Kurosaki stood to the side, completely bewildered. He scratched his head, his young face full of confusion. "Why would I be wary? Isn't he a member of the Gotei 13? Wouldn't it be better if he were stronger?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a barrage of gazes fall upon him.

Those gazes held an indescribable... complexity.

There was helplessness, amusement, a kind of "how can this child be so naive" tenderness, and a faint sense of tolerance, as if looking at a child who doesn't know any better.

Kisuke Urahara lay on the ground, too weak to move, but his eyes were wide open, staring at Ichigo Kurosaki with an expression that seemed to say, "Are you serious?" He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only sighed softly and shook his head.

Isshin Kurosaki lay beside his son, looking at his innocent and somewhat adorable son, a wry smile playing on his pale face. He opened his mouth and said in a weak voice, "Ichigo... you... sigh..."

Even the usually serious Retsu Unohana had a faint smile in her gentle eyes. She shook her head slightly, a gesture that seemed to say, "This child is really something."

Gin Ichimaru stood not far away, his narrowed eyes slightly opening as he looked at Ichigo Kurosaki with an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?" His lips twitched slightly, as if he was trying to suppress something.

Rangiku Matsumoto leaned against him, not saying a word, but her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed her feelings; she was desperately trying to hold back her laughter.

Seeing the strange looks from everyone and feeling the eerie silence, Ichigo Kurosaki's confusion deepened. He scratched his head, a blush of embarrassment rising on his young face, and his voice became somewhat hesitant. "Was what I said... wrong?"